Edward Pettengill has been with the group for 48 years and is the longest running member.

Pettengill was a violist with the Philharmonic and started playing about 70 years ago.

He remembers each performance with the group fondly and is grateful for the experience he's had.

"I have been greatly blessed over 81 years with a wonderful family, a loving wife, grandchildren and being able to contribute artistically to this community, especially this community," Pettengill said.

Pettengill estimates he's played about 500 concerts with the Philharmonic and is proud of the growth the group has made.

He says that the final song of the night's performance has extra importance for him.

"I took my children through Disney Land many, many years ago and we got stuck in the middle of that one particular exhibit and I had to sit for a half an hour and listen to 'It's a small world, da, da da,' which drove me nuts. So, ironically, that's the last piece we'll play."